# Can't figure out how to export shape keys actions with Blender to Babylon.js **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions\ **Created:** [December 26, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948 "2020-12-26T13:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mihainsto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/mihainsto/32/10595_2.png) [@mihainsto](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/mihainsto)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 1:17pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/1 "2020-12-26T13:17:50Z")
Hello, I have trouble with exporting shape keys actions from blender to Babylon js with the exporter. I want to make a string animation and export it in Babylon and play it. This is the Blender file, I have in total 3 actions. Two for the cylinder and one for the cube(this is for testing to see if the actions are exported correctly) ![Screenshot from 2020-12-26 15-01-20](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/uploads/babylonjs/original/2X/3/313397b92dfe89a9c15e96fed177dc1520b9510f.jpeg) On the sandbox, I can see the cube vertical action and play it but I can’t see any action on the cylinder. On cube: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/uploads/babylonjs/original/2X/3/31d69ffeae8d7918bd0e1da71f6943b294e5509b.png) On Cylinder: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/uploads/babylonjs/original/2X/1/114797a0c148be77380275ba6cafcf438a01235c.png) Here is a link with the blend file and the .babylon exported file. [Cylinder-shapekeys.zip](https://forum.babylonjs.com/uploads/short-url/u4gIMJO5iIJ5hnSVv5g5LPFJmg8.zip) (119.4 KB) I tried to make a workaround, to have an armature that was linked with the shape key by a driver and to have a regular action for that armature, it blender it worked, but after I exported it with the exporter when I played the action in the sandbox nothing happened. [Cylinder-armature.zip](https://forum.babylonjs.com/uploads/short-url/7LL2q1wCIn84H0DOHi34YpekVWA.zip) (122.0 KB) ---
**Author:** ![sebavan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/sebavan/32/57_2.png) [@sebavan](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/sebavan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/2 "2020-12-26T17:16:43Z")
@JCPalmer is definitely the blender exporter King, I bet he ll be able to help soon-ish but do not forget it is a vacation period so you might have to be patient 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mihainsto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/mihainsto/32/10595_2.png) [@mihainsto](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/mihainsto)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2020, 2:39pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/3 "2020-12-27T14:39:41Z")
Ok, thank you for your reply ---
**Author:** ![to5ta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/to5ta/32/50087_2.png) [@to5ta](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/to5ta)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 12:56pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/4 "2020-12-28T12:56:12Z")
I just downloaded your file and exported it to gltf, shapekey animation was present in babylonjs-sandbox and also [this](https://gltf-viewer.donmccurdy.com/) gltf-Viewer. So i guess this is okay so far? You might want to start / stop the animation manually [using babylonjs’ animation utilities](https://doc.babylonjs.com/divingDeeper/animation/animation_introduction)? ---
**Author:** ![JCPalmer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/jcpalmer/32/42_2.png) [@JCPalmer](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/JCPalmer)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/5 "2020-12-28T14:45:14Z")
The .babylon file format does not support shapekey animation AFAIK. It does export the keys though, as you have found You could facilitate the animation a number of ways after load without much trouble, since you only show one key from your picture. ---
**Author:** ![mihainsto](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/mihainsto/32/10595_2.png) [@mihainsto](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/mihainsto)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/6 "2020-12-28T14:53:16Z")
@to5ta Thank you, it works with the gltf export. @JCPalmer Thanks, I understand. As for a little more background, I want to do an oscillation movement with the string. I have found another way to do that these days using Babylon.js updatable pipe. Like I did in this playground: [https://playground.babylonjs.com/#YJVTI6#112](https://playground.babylonjs.com/#YJVTI6#112) The question is: Does it have some negative performance impact if I use the string with gltf export or the string with .babylon export? Or should I use the pipe from Babylon.js? ---
**Author:** ![to5ta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/to5ta/32/50087_2.png) [@to5ta](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/to5ta)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/7 "2020-12-28T16:45:32Z")
if you have no particular need for a custom model go with the utils provided by babylonjs, i’d say. One would also not import a box model for example i guess. ---
**Author:** ![to5ta](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex024/user_avatar/forum.babylonjs.com/to5ta/32/50087_2.png) [@to5ta](https://forum.babylonjs.com/u/to5ta)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://forum.babylonjs.com/t/cant-figure-out-how-to-export-shape-keys-actions-with-blender-to-babylon-js/16948/8 "2020-12-28T21:27:55Z")
Dont forget to post your result here if you like 🙂